Tester

It's Time to Make Your Move!!

The Dream Team — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:01:00 GMT

Lennox Scott Says: It’s Time To Make Your Move!

With the news that interest rates on a 30-year fixed *conforming loan have dropped below 5%, J. Lennox Scott, chairman and CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate, feels compelled to alert consumers to the fact that now is an opportune time for them to make their move on a home purchase or refinance.

"Even with speculation that interest rates could drop further, there’s no guarantee that will happen or that rates will even remain at their current level," said Scott. "In the recorded history of interest rates, they’ve never dropped this low with the exception of a brief period in 2003."

Scott adds that homebuyers who are concerned about home prices dropping further need to understand the math, "A 1% drop in interest rates is equal to a 10% savings in the sales price of a home." As an example, the following illustrates the savings a homebuyer would assume with today’s interest rate compared to interest rates from only a few weeks ago:

Senerio 1 Senerio 2

Sales Price $400,000 $400,000

Down Payment 10% 10%

Loan Amount $360,000 $360,000

Interest Rate **5,875% **4.875%

Payment $2,129.54 $1,905.15

"This chart demonstrates that today’s interest rates increases a homebuyer’s purchasing power by 10%," said Scott. "This fact combined with the ample inventory of high-quality homes for sale makes this the ideal time to make your move on a home purchase."

Scott also wants homeowners to know that lower rates provide advantageous opportunities for homeowners to significantly reduce their monthly payment by refinancing. To support this statement, Scott adds that he himself is going to refinance his own home based on today’s drop in interest rates.

Scott says that there are misconceptions about what it takes to qualify for a mortgage, "Contrary to what you may have heard, you don’t need perfect credit, a large down payment, or a large amount of home equity to qualify for a low interest loan. Loans still exist for the majority of people looking to purchase or refinance."

To speak with Rob Drexler, Margie Heath or Alisha Harrison of John L. Scott, Belfair call 360.275.1600 or email rob@ydthomes.com margie@ydthomes.com alisha@ydthomes.com

Now is the time to buy!!

*Home purchases with a loan amount of $506,000 or less qualify for conforming loans

**Represents a one point buy down; information provided by Response Mortgage Services

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The Theler Wetlands!

The Dream Team — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:41:00 GMT

Nestled between the pristine waters of the Puget Sound and the majestic shores of Hood Canal you’ll find North Mason. It’s a beautiful community. In addition to the amazing salt waterfronts, we enjoy many fresh water rivers and lakes as well as vistas of the Olympic Mountains and Mt. Rainier. I find myself always searching out a new place to enjoy the natural beauty. There isn’t anything much more relaxing than a good walk in the beautiful outdoors. I always take advantage of the opportunity to for a nice a walk. Whether it’s sunny or overcast, warm or cool, if I have the chance I take it. Luckily for me, North Mason is home to The Theler Wetlands.

Located in the heart of Belfair, just off Highway 3 at the tip of Hood Canal, The Wetlands at Theler offers something for the nature enthusiast in everyone. The Wetlands is comprised of 71 acres of salt marsh and estuary wetlands at the mouth of the Union River. You’ll enjoy well groomed trails through forests and boardwalks over wetlands that meander through nearly 5 miles of nature’s beauty.

Known as a haven for birding, Theler is the perfect place to view everything from the Great Blue Herons to Belted Kingfishers from Bald Eagles to Red-winged Blackbirds. One of the great things about The Wetlands is that it is perfect for not only the experience birder, but also the novice, like me. There are pamphlets with birding hints in the lobby as well as electronic bird identifiers, bird books and binoculars available from the staff in the Exhibit Building.

In addition to the trails and birding opportunities, there is also 2 acres of Master Gardener Native Plant and Grass Demonstrative Gardens surrounding the Exhibit Buildings and classroom. There are 21 separate gardens that showcase the versatility and beauty of low maintenance landscaping that native plants coupled with well conceived design afford. Including over 800 native trees, shrubs and ground covers, this may well be the largest collection of native plants in a natural setting in Western Washington. The gardens were designed and planted in 1997 by master gardeners along with help from community and student volunteers. The gardens are proof of what true community spirit can create!

I had the opportunity to take one of my much loved walks through the wetlands just last week. I had a lunch appointment and then my afternoon was free, and as it was a beautiful fall day in the Pacific Northwest, I decided to load up my daughter and enjoy some rare free time! I’m so glad I did. The skies were brilliant blue, the air crisp and the trees were awash in deep reds and golds. We came upon two Great Blue Herons, along with a myriad of other birds while we were walking and the dragonflies accompanied us through the trails. Having a background in photography, I was having a wonderful time with my camera.

In addition to being a wonderful natural sanctuary, The Wetlands is also home to the Theler Community Center, hosting many community activities, events and meetings. The North Mason Chamber of Commerce holds their monthly luncheon on the fourth Wednesday of every month. You can find Karate classes, Senior Dance Socials and Family Bingo throughout the week. Check out the calendar for more info and specific dates and times. The Theler Center is also a designated emergency shelter for the North Mason community.

Theler receives no tax support and is run by a volunteer board and relies heavily on donations and fund raising efforts. Yet another example of our community spirit!

I hope everyone is able to take advantage of this beautiful asset to the North Mason community. If you are searching for educational opportunities or just a quiet place to collect your thoughts, Theler offers something for everyone!

If you decide to experience the beauty of Theler for yourself, feel free to email me or give me a call. I’d be happy to offer any assistance I can. Or, stop by my office at 23552 NE State Route 3, Suite 2B in Belfair for some coffee before you go – the pot is always on and the conversation is always enjoyable!

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We've Moved

The Dream Team — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:09:00 GMT

In this season of change, we are noticing change all around us; in the housing and financial markets, the country's administration and practically everything else. In that spirit, "Your Dream Team" is very excited to let you know that we have also moved onward and upward!

We sought out an opportunity for both our clients and ourselves, to better our business. In order to accomplish this, Rob became an owner of the brand new and exciting John L. Scott office that opened in Belfair on October 1, 2008. "Your Dream Team" is now affiliated with this brand new office and is excited to be a part of the well established John L. Scott brand!

Because of this, we are looking forward to providing you with an even higher level of service. The new tools available to us are better than those we enjoyed before.

We hope you are as excited about this news as we are. We invite you to stop by our new place anytime. We are located at 23552 NE State Route 3, Suite 2B in Belfair. We've always got time for our clients and friends - and the coffee's always on!!

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Buying Your First Home

The Dream Team — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:03:00 GMT

Get The Facts... from "Your Dream Team" and the Washington Association of REALTORS

Congratulations! You are thinking of buying your first home. We know this is a big decision for you with a lot of unknowns. Many first time home buyers will contemplate the decision for years before taking action, even a first step. Our research indicates that once a first time home buyer does take that first step, they purchase their first home within three months. We are here to help you take that first step.

Once you purchase a home you will soon learn the tax advantages of home ownership and the opportunity to build equity (or wealth) over time. According to the Federal Reserve, the median household wealth accumulation for a homeowner was $184,000; in comparison, the median net worth of a renter was $4,000. It's time to start taking those steps!

Keep checking back for blogs on the following steps!

Step 1

Starting the home search

Step 2

Determine how much home you can afford

Step 3

Shop for a loan and research first time home buying programs

Step 4

Decide on a home and make an offer

Step 5

Get home inspected

Step 6

Shop for homeowners insurance

Step 7

Complete the transaction and move in

In the meantime, continue to use our search options on our website to watch the market. Call us if you have any questions or want to see any homes. We are here to help you see your real estate dreams come true!

"Your Dream Team"

Rob 360.620.2466

Margie 360.271.1926

Alisha 360.649.0374

www.ydthomes.com

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Get the Facts Straight!

The Dream Team — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 13:53:00 GMT

Tired of the media hype surrounding the Housing Market in Washington State? Ready for some truth? Here is some accurate data that might help you dicipher the misinformation that's out there.

First:

The Washington real estate market is stable! Homes are an excellent investment that you get to live in (or rent out)!

Facts about Foreclosures:

The foreclosure rates today are the same as they were 10 years ago!

Fewer than one percent of mortgages end in default in Washington state.

As of mid-June, sub-prime, adjustable-rate loans represented 20 percent of loans nationally, but just 6 percent of home loans in Washington.

The Market is Strong:

Home appreciation in Washington continues to out-perform the rest of the nation with year-to-year price increases every quarter since the spring of 1995!

The Market is Stable:

Home prices in Washington have increased an average of 8.1 percent since the same time last year. Many counties, however, have experienced price hikes much higher: Chelan 29.8 percent, Okanogan 24.5 percent, Douglas 22.2 percent, and Lewis 19.3 percent.

WSU Center for Real Estate Research (CRER)

The demand for median-priced homes has never been greater.

Why is Washington Different:

The home market isn't keeping pace with the growth of the state's population, which is continuing to increase at 1.8 percent per year.

The state's population will increase by nearly one million over the present decade and reach 6.8 million by 2010. About two thirds of the growth is due to in-migration; the rest is a result of the growth of families now living in Washington.

Washington State Office of Financial Management

What About Inventory:

The key to stability in the residential real estate market is balance, where balance is about a six month supply (or inventory) of homes available on the market at any given time.

Who We Are:

Washington REALTORS represent approximately 170,000 homebuyers and the interests of more than 2 million homeowners throughout the state.

REALTORS top public policy priority isbuilding communities that havea strong economy, attractive home choices, great schools and parks, safe neighborhoods, and good transportation choices.

Call today for more information or just to discuss the facts!

"Your Dream Team"

Rob Drexler

2007 Mason County Assoc. of REALTORS President

360.620.2466

Margie Heath

2009 Mason County Assoc. of REALTORS President-Elect

360.271.1926

Alisha Harrison

2007/2008/2009 Mason County Assoc. of REALTORS Director

360.649.0374

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